23 replies to this topic

[becca]

I am having trouble when I type. The computer goes back and forth between the words coming up as normal and the letters and backspacing coming up really slow and taking forever. My computer is also running a bit slower than usual..The screensavers are getting suck and I have to push the power button to get back to what I was doing...

[jephree]

Greetings.

Do you know the make and model of computer? And the Operating System? XP perhaps?

If not go to start > Run...

Type: winver

Also is this a brand new problem? Were things all well yesterday or the day before?

If so as a first response I would suggest a System Restore to a point/date prior to your problems as seen here (assuming XP):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084

[becca]

No the problems have been for a couple of days now.. The computer is a Dell inspiron 1501 and the program is Microsoft 5.1 2007.. Is that what you needed? Thanks so much..

[jephree]

That program is Microsoft Office which is an add on to your Operating System which I am still assuming is XP. Even several days should not be an issue for System Restore and I would reiterate that option. Simply choose a date prior to any current problems.

[becca]

That didn't work...Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks so much.

[becca]

I am still have a lot of difficulty trying to type and with the general speed my computer is moving at and it seems to be getting worse. Does anyone have suggestions??? Thank you

[Doug]

Hi becca,

Jephree may be back to follow up with you.

In the meantime, the problem you are experiencing can be caused by a few things, some easier to deal with than others.

Let's explore a couple.

Dell 1501 laptops seem to be giving this problem if PCMService.exe is running active.
You can safely "disable" PCMService.exe using System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)

Go to:
Start - Run - (type)msconfig - press Enter
System Configuration Utility will appear
Select - StartUp(tab)

Scroll through the Startups list.
If PCMServices.exe appears - Remove the Checkmark/Tick from in front of that one item.
Press - Apply - OK/Close to exit System Configuration Utility

You will be prompted to Restart your machine -- please restart.
Once your machine boots to Windows again, you will be presented with a warning screen that says some things have been changed in System Configuration Utility.
Welll..... We know that. That's what we just did.

You can safely Close that warning.
_____________________

Give your typing a test drive.
Did that resolve your problem?
______________________

If not, let's have a look at the other items that may be running actively.

Please consider running this simple utility that will help you get control of programs and processes that you wish to have running active, or not.

CodeStuff-Starters
http://www.snapfiles...et/Starter.html

Download and install, agreeing to the licensing terms and allow to install with all of the default settings as preselected in the installation wizard.

When you finally allow CodeStuff-Starters to run
It will preselect StartUps Tab -

• Click on File
• Select - save as .HTML (name the report file - Startups Sept013.html)

In your next reply, post the file as an attached file (use browse and upload buttons -- at the bottom-right corner of your topic posting window where you are typing your next reply)

Please do not make any changes with Code-Stuff Starters, until after you post the requested information above and receive recommendations from a helper here.

Best Regards

[becca]

Ok, I have attached the file and run the program as I didn't find anything on the first part of the suggestion..Thank you so much for your help.. Rebecca

Attached Files

•  Startups_Sept013.html   12.23KB   27 downloads

[Doug]

Becca,

Of most concern, is that no antivirus, nor antispyware appear in your list of running processes from Startup.

Clean Access Agent.lnk is a feature I am not familiar with, but appears to be an access qualifier that is required of users who may be connected to a school or university internet access. <-- does that apply to you?

Other than possibly the above, what security applications do you run?
__________________________-

Of your StartUp list "all" can be safely disabled and some possibly should be uninstalled.

Disabling StartUp files using System Configuration Utility or simply using CodeStuff Starters (remove the checkmark/tick from in front of each item) can be done simply and safely. All those programs and processes will continue to be available to you to use whenever you decide to start them manually by clicking on their icon or listing in Start-All Programs.

It is quite likely that having so much running from StartUp is consuming excessive system resources and particularly RAM memory to the point of lagging your keyboard.
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Unless you are a serious user of Google Desktop Search, I would Uninstall it.
Searching with My Computer/ Windows Explorer is more than enough for almost all users unless they have huge catalogs of inventory items they must search and keep track of. If you only have a few hundred saved documents and only several hundred tunes and/or media, you will be able to do just fine without the Google Desktop Search features.
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QuickTime is a notorious resource consumer. QuickTime Alternative is a fully functional application with a much smaller resource footprint.

Same with RealPlayer Realsched which is notorious frequent in "phoning home" to check on updates and media usage.

You can replace both with K-lite Mega Codec Pack and have, In My Opinion, a better media experience
____________________

Many people are hesitant to disable the Dell Support "stuff" on their Dell machines. But in general it is bloatware and relatively un-used.
____________________

CTFmon.exe is a MS utility for special language features, mostly for special needs access and a few features for Thai and Mandarin languages. If not needed, you'll be happy to be done with it.

GoTo - Control Panel - Regional and Language Options - Languages(tab)
Press - Details(button)
From the next Panel (Text Services and Input languages) - Select - Advanced(tab)
Place a checkmark/tick in front of the System Configuration item: "Turn off advanced Text Services"
Press - Apply - OK - OK to back out and then close your Control Panel
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I happily recommend for you to disable "all" of the items listed in Startups list.
If for some reason you later decide you need a specific item to run from StartUp, you can re-Enable using CodeStuff Starters, or MSCONFIG
______________________

Now I "seriously" inquire about Antivirus, AntiSpyware, and Firewall.
Please let me know what you have in place, and put something in place for security if you do not have anything installed.
Check here for an overview and suggestions: http://forums.whatth...ing_t98700.html
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Let us know how the machine is running after accomplishing the above.

Best Regards

[becca]

Hi there, I did as you suggested and disabled those programs but I am still having trouble typing. I have sophos antivirus and I don't know why that didn't show up but I recently put on a trial version of norton anti virus hoping that perhaps some of the problems were a virus and the sophos wasn't working...anything else I could possibly try so I don't have to take it somewhere?? Thanks again..

[Doug]

Hi becca,

If you have Sophos installed and running, adding Norton will cause conflicts.
While it is possible to have a security program like an antivirus installed on the machine and have its automated features completely disabled, it is still quite likely that a second security program of the same antivirus category "will" cause conflicts.

Therefore, I recommend:
1 AntiVirus
1 AntiSpyware
1 software Firewall
______________________

Please have a look in Device Manager
Right-Click on My Computer - Select Properties - Select Hardware(tab) - press Device Manager

Scroll down the list, inspecting for any yellow or red warning and/or black exclamations points (!)
If any of those appear, there is a problem with the device (usually a corrupted Driver)

Report back with any warnings or errors.
____________________________

Next,

Let's have a look at your machine's overall configuration and performance.

Please Run the PCPitstop Full Tests and post your TechExpress link back here into this Thread.
By doing so, we'll be able to check a wide variety of configuration, hardware and software issues that might give us a better idea of how to approach your situation

http://www.pcpitstop.com

help page to demonstrate how to post your TechExpress link back here to this Thread:
http://www.pcpitstop...ress/howto1.asp

Please post answers to the above suggestions plus your PCPitstop Full Tests link in your next reply.

[becca]

There was nowhere to really scroll but I didn't see any exclamation points..Also I don't know an antivirus is but not the other two (firewall and spyware) Is sophos not a good one to use...should I get rid of the norton (free trial) or sophos? Here is the link I think you need for the pit stop

http://www.pcpitstop...?conid=22683138

[Doug]

Sophos is fine.
I use some of their specialty products.
But I've never used their installed/onboard AntiVirus.
________________

My Opinion.... I do not recommend Norton/Symantec products.
I realize that they have supposedly cleaned up their tools recently, but I still haven't seen the benefit, nor advantage in using it.

Get rid of one or both Sophos or Norton/Symantec
________________

I use Avira - (free)

Also highly recommended is:

Avast
_______________________

Remember that you can only have (1) one Antivirus installed and active at any one time.

To remove the Norton/Symantec, you can use Control Panel - Add/Remove
but they also offer a very good uninstall utility to get rid of all remnants of Norton/Symantec
http://service1.syma...005033108162039

I'll have a look at your Pit Test Results and get back to you.

[becca]

My only concern is that when I ran Norton it picked up some cookies but when I have run sophos in the past it never picks up on anything...Will Avia and how do I get rid of sophos? thanks

[Doug]

Each Security product has its own proprietary inclusion/exclusion list.
Some pickup on certain cookies, others don't.

And while even tracking-cookies are more the province of Anti-Spyware, cookies themselves are not generally considered high risk.

I clear my cookies using:

ATF-Cleaner http://www.atribune....c...5&Itemid=25
or
CleanUp 4.52 http://www.stevengou...o...&Itemid=219
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You should be able to uninstall Sophos via Control Panel - Add/Remove

Here's extra information is needed:
http://www.sophos.co...icle/11019.html